Texas Is One of the Worst Places to Live for Older Americans

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a surge of retirements across the U.S. labor force. Experts estimate that in the first 18 months of the pandemic, there were 2.4 million more retirements than there would have otherwise been. Due in part to the historic increase, an estimated 19.3% of the U.S. population were retired as of mid-2021, the largest share in at least the last 25 years.

The two primary reasons older Americans left the workforce for good in recent months were the health risks posed by the pandemic and rising asset values - particularly in housing and the stock market - that made retirement financially feasible. Indeed, health and financial stability are two of many factors that affect overall quality of life throughout old age. Here is a look at what it costs to retire comfortably in every state.

With retirements at historic levels, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of over a dozen key socioeconomic measures to identify the best and worst states to grow old in. The measures were chosen to gauge the health, financial well-being, safety, and social engagement of 65 and older populations in each state.

Financial insecurity is more common among Texas' retirement age population than it is nationwide. An estimated 10.6% of Texans 65 and older live below the poverty line, and only 51.7% of 65 and older households in the state have retirement income, compared to the national figures of 9.4% and 58.8%, respectively.

Older Texas residents are also statistically more likely to be the victim of a violent crime than most Americans. There were 446 violent crimes reported per 100,000 people in the state in 2020, well above the national violent crime rate of 399 per 100,000.

RankStatePopulation 65 and older (%)Avg. annual earnings, 65 and older households ($)Life expectancy at age 65 (years)1Delaware19.563,96219.22Hawaii19.081,02721.13Connecticut17.679,20220.34Utah11.461,31319.55Maryland15.980,47719.46Massachusetts17.076,13119.97New York16.979,33920.28Washington15.966,58119.89Colorado14.764,40320.010Vermont20.154,52519.811New Hampshire18.662,64219.512Wisconsin17.546,90819.513New Jersey16.679,11219.914Oregon18.254,61219.715Virginia15.968,43519.316Minnesota16.353,27220.017Maine21.348,02519.118Nebraska16.154,24919.319Pennsylvania18.759,51319.120Florida20.960,59819.921Rhode Island17.769,25619.522Idaho16.252,21619.323South Dakota17.448,10019.724California14.880,45920.325Iowa17.549,52119.326Michigan17.752,13718.927Montana19.548,37019.528Illinois16.162,79719.429Wyoming17.152,05419.030Arizona18.057,46919.631Ohio17.550,40218.432North Carolina16.752,48118.733South Carolina18.251,37218.634Kansas16.453,08118.835Alaska12.469,44319.236Indiana16.151,95018.337North Dakota15.862,66219.738Georgia14.359,75118.439Missouri17.251,94018.440West Virginia20.545,53217.641Tennessee16.755,99017.942New Mexico18.058,48519.543Texas12.964,58918.944Alabama17.451,60117.645Oklahoma16.161,09117.646Nevada16.256,56318.747Louisiana16.055,80917.948Kentucky16.952,98917.549Arkansas17.447,04117.950Mississippi16.449,42217.5